A Tale of Two Brothers
Hey Peeps, I don't own anything related to Sonic or his universe, that's SEGA and all other companies relevant to the creation of his various back-stories, and even though most of them have tanked it now that is beside the point. Honestly, I actually own very little in this fic (next to nothing to be exact) but this is my story and even though I am using characters from Archie, DiC and SEGA I will be fleshing many of them out because they were only 2-dimensional so in some ways they will appear very OC hopefully you'll bear with me! Anyway, I've bored you to tears with this disclaimer so enjoy and let me know what you think! X
Review Replies:
Nyx27Seth: Haha, how did I know you'd love it when he broke his arm? Well, that is an interesting idea about the jealousy but I think I can twist it a little more so things aren't what they first appear… we'll see what I can do x
Slayer 666: Ok, I have no idea what the Bachelorette is I have never seen it and only heard about it in Family Guy, it sounds like one of those god awful shows that only sad people who are desperate and stupid would enter. I guess it was one of those shows that the British Television people looked at and went 'Hell No' so we never got to see it… I wish somebody would do that with Big Brother! And no, it didn't really work in royal families either (it did sometimes) but divorce is really frowned upon, just look at all the crap Prince Charles got when he split with Diana (that's a perfect example of how badly the public take it).. The view is generally; well you made your bed so lie in it for the good of the nation… besides, once your rulers are established the marriage and monarchy is binding. It puts up a very bad image if the King divorces his Queen (King Henry the VIII taught us that) if they can't be united in marriage how can they unite a nation.. X
Astroshadow: Yes, it is… I don't really know what else to say to that other than there is not a lot of actual debutant action, this is mostly behind the scene stuff. X
AllesiaTheHedge: Nope, not heard of you but glad that there is someone else out there that loves this pair! They are my favourite pair and there is not enough done on them. Inspiration for what I wonder… you have me intrigued now! I'm guessing by 'writing ability' you are referring to the fact that I somehow manage to cram so much detail into my chapters? I admit it… I'm a stickler for details, I want people to try and see the story as I would in my head, I try and picture it like a mini-cartoon in my head (weird I know but it works).. Anyway, glad you like the story and hope you stick around for more X
Chapter Thirteen: The Night of the Debutant Ball..
It wasn't until the end of his first week bound in a cast did Jules finally return to his home in Knothole, glad to be back amongst the secluded trees. He had hoped to come back sooner but Charles had refused to let his little brother return until he was sure his cobalt sibling could take care of himself. It had been frustrating but Jules knew his older brother was just concerned and meant well so he endured the extra time in the big city just to please him. But Charles needn't have worried as not long after the mild-blue hedgehog had left his brother to settle in, after making him promise to take things easy, Missy Rabbot had arrived having missed him in his absence.
The moment the honey-furred female rabbit saw his broken arm her soft-brown eyes widened like saucers then she instantly invited herself in and began fussing over him. With her husband Buchanan Rabbot away serving on the frontlines of war Missy had grown lonely without him. It was the first time she had found herself alone since moving to Knothole. Since all her family was back in the south the honey-furred female rabbit had found herself seeking companionship from Jules to fill the hollow void her husband had left. Now that the cobalt-blue hedgehog was injured she had more of an excuse to care and mollycoddle him like she would usually do for her own husband. Jules had never asked Missy to do things like cook, clean or laundry for him but it made her so happy to have someone to take care of that he couldn't bring himself to ask her to stop. Besides, letting her care for him made his last week of statutory sick leave easier…
On his final day of sick leave Jules found himself sitting in Buchanan's old rocking chair outside the back of the Rabbot log-cabin as Missy tended to the plants of their backyard allotment. Her nimble honey-furred fingers tended to the vegetable plants with gentle tenderness as her narrowed soft-brown eyes looked like a contented mother doting on her 'babies'.
'Be a deah sugah-quills an' pass me that ol' wickah basket by yah..' The southern rabbit drawled in her breathy tone, glancing around from a couple of freshly picked carrots she had just plucked from the soil.
'Sure..' Jules responded politely before swivelling around in his seat, careful to avoid hitting his cast off the wooden armrest. He then picked up the basket beside him with his uninjured arm and passed it to the honey-furred rabbit. 'Here you go.' He added with a smile as she approached his side.
'Thank yah kindly.' She uttered lightly, accepting the basket with a smile back before sashaying back to her carrots then placing them in. Missy then bent over her allotment ground with her creamy tail and denim cut-offs in full view, plucking some more vegetables and nestling them in with her baby carrots. Despite the fact that Missy and her husband had only moved in two months previously the honey-furred southern beauty had still managed to use her gentle green-fingers to use the last of the summer harvest sun to her advantage. Missy had grown a few vegetables she had potted and brought with her from her southern allotment, they were being harvested just in time as the late-autumn frost was due to appear in the next week.
'Oh.. mah babies are pehfect.' Missy drawled in a soft cooing voice to her basket of vegetables. 'Yah'll gonna make momma very happy this wintah.' The honey-furred rabbit then picked herself up off the now-barren dirt and moved back to where Jules was sitting. 'Well sugah-quills, Ah'll go put this away then Ah'll make us some o' ma momma's good ol'-fashioned gumbo. Ya'll like it Ah promise..' Missy winked at the cobalt-blue hedgehog as she passed him with her basket filled with carrots, potato, marrow and mushrooms with a few onion sprigs sticking out from underneath.
'Missy..' Jules sounded as the southern rabbit approached her doorway. She immediately turned and looked into his warm hazel eyes curiously at her name. '-could we make it at my house, I'm kinda waiting for word from my captain about when I'm supposed to return to work.'
'Sureh hon..' Missy sounded sweetly with a smile. 'Ah'll just put away whit we don't need an' we'll be on ah way.' She immediately sashayed into her kitchen with the basket.
It didn't take the two of them long to get everything ready for Missy's home-made gumbo. Missy went about creating the base with fat drippings and flour, whisking them thoroughly while Jules swiftly chopped the vegetables. The honey-furred southern rabbit's soft-brown eyes widened in amazement as the sharp-bladed knife blurred in the cobalt hedgehog's white-gloved left hand. In a manner of seconds he had diced the onion and roughly chopped the rest of the vegetables that were destined for the massive pot Missy was attending.
'Oh mah stars..' The honey-furred rabbit-mobian sounded in a tone of quiet awe. Jules wiped his middle-sized vegetable knife clean before noticing that he was being stared at. The cobalt hedgehog blinked confused at her for a moment.
'Huh?' He sounded, completely missing what she was so impressed by since his gift of speed was completely normal to him.
'Humh..' Missy made a single smirking noise of amusement as her soft brown eyes narrowed adoringly at his bemusement. 'Ma momma would love t'have yah in herh kitchen, though yah might nevah leave ahgen if she had herh way.' Her pink-shadowed eyes then returned to the roux she'd been stirring into a thick soup-like concoction.
'Remind me never to pay her a visit then..' Jules threw her a smirk with a kink of his brow before he scooped the unwanted vegetables skins and peelings into a plastic tub for Missy's compost heap.
'Yah a real kick in the teeth, y'know that?' The seventeen year old female rabbit giggled lightly at his words then picked up the chopping board full of vegetables and swiped them into the huge copper-rimmed pot. She then turned away from it, allowing her mixed vegetables to simmer and cook in the brothy mixture. Missy then turned her attention to de-shelling the freshwater shrimps they'd caught earlier; she was a vegetarian herself but respected his omnivorous appetite. Once ready she set them aside along with the bought crabmeat and then prodded the vegetables, testing to see if they were cooking nicely…
…Although it took a further forty minutes to finish the gumbo the Hedgehog log-cabin was filled with laughter as Jules and Missy kept each other entertained. The platonic couple danced to one of Jules' albums by a porcupine group known as The Quills and Missy shared her latest letter from Buchanan that he'd sent from the trenches, editing out the bits that were for her eyes only.
'Alright sugah-quills, hope yah hungry..' Missy finally said as she ladled some of the freshly made gumbo into a soup bowl and served it to the cobalt-blue hedgehog.
'Starved..' Jules drawled lazily from his seat, the rich spicy smell of the gumbo hitting his black nose as Missy then turned to fill herself a bowl of the gumbo she hadn't added meat. The female rabbit turned back to the breakfast nook to see Jules politely waiting for her.
'Aw, yah didn't have t'wait for li'l ol' me. Just dig in.' She added with a smile, seeing he hadn't touched his bowl yet.
'Smells good Missy.' Jules sounded appreciatively, grabbing his fork and digging it into the brothy mixture before scooping out a mouthful of stewed vegetables and shrimp. He immediately pushed the fork into his mouth and made a hum of satisfaction as his taste-buds took in the explosion flavours.
'It shure does an' since it's just us hereh, Ah tell yah the secret to momma's gumbo. It's a pinch of-' The honey-furred female rabbit broke off at the sound of a sharp rap on the front door of the log-cabin. Both she and the cobalt-blue male hedgehog swivelled around to it in surprise. Jules put down his fork, about to answer the door when Missy bounced down off her stool first and put her honey-furred hand up to stop him.
'Nuh-uh, yah just sit hereh an' enjoy yah gumbo. I'll git the doorh.' She then moved swiftly to the main door before he could argue back that they were in his home.
'Ok, fine.' Jules shrugged carelessly, picking up the fork again and getting another mouthful of gumbo. As he chewed his mouthful his blue pointed-ear swivelling in the direction of the door as his excellent hearing listened to the conversation coming from the front door..
'Well hi thereh..' Came Missy's slightly breathy but excitable drawl, greeting whoever had come to call. 'Yah lookin' foh Jules?'
'That's right. My name is Amadeus Prower and it's imperative that I speak with him at once.' The confident yet familiar voice of Captain Prower hit the cobalt-blue teenager's ears and caused his head to swivel around to the doorway, hoping Missy would have the sense to just show him through.
'Well, sureh. He's in the kitchen at the back.' The honey-furred rabbit continued in her friendly drawl. 'Ah'll jist show yah through..'
'Thank you Miss..?' His captain's voice tailed off in an enquiring tone.
'Missus Rabbot.' Missy corrected him kindly. 'Mah husband is fightin' in the warh… This way.' Jules heard the front door shut and the two of them move closer as they continued to talk through the corridor.
'Ah, my apologies Mrs Rabbot. I understand how difficult that must be. My eldest brother Cadmus is also out on the frontlines.' Captain Prower replied in a softer voice, laced with sympathy for the young rabbit's plight.
'Well, Ah wish him luck. Mah husband writes an' tells me that things areh tough out thereh.' Missy said honestly.
'Yes. I have been hearing the same. I will return the sentiments to your husband Mrs Rabbot and hope that he does not follow those who have already been slain in battle.' Captain Prower nodded thoughtfully. The next second the empty doorway that Jules had been staring at while following their conversation filled with the svelte figure of Missy and at the sight of him her serious expression melted into a sweet smile.
'Jules, thereh's a Mistah Prowah hereh to see yah sugah.' She said gently before moving into the room and around the breakfast nook to the kitchen side. Immediately the Captain of the Royal Guard appeared in the doorway.
'Captain Prower..' Jules drawled with both pleasure and surprise at receiving the mobian-fox in his home at such a late hour in the day. He was still wearing his Royal Guard uniform which was odd even though Jules could not picture him wearing anything else. 'What brings you up my neck of the woods, sir?' The cobalt hedgehog added curiously despite suspecting the reason.
'I wouldn't be here if you had answered one of the calls I made earlier.' Captain Prower responded as he folded his arms and lent in the doorway, his bushy fox tail sweeping around his red-booted feet as he did so.
'Yeh..' Jules nodded with understanding. 'Sorry about that sir, y'see-'
'It was mah fault..' Missy suddenly interrupted her cobalt-blue friend and drawing Captain Prower's attention back to her. The honey-furred rabbit then flicked her fringe out of her eyes before continuing. 'We wereh at mah allotment an' Jules remembered yah was callin' so we came back hereh as soon as we could.' At this moment the cobalt-blue seventeen year old hedgehog raised his hand to silence her and the female rabbit instantly stopped speaking.
'Thanks Missy but I can speak for myself.' Jules said calmly as Missy watched with concerned soft-brown eyes. 'I'm sorry I missed your call sir. But still, why come all the way out here just to tell me when I'm returning to work, isn't that a little excessive?' The hedgehog kinked a brow with amusement as he said these words.
'Well, when you failed to answer my calls I finally decided on a whim to come out here to find out for myself how you are.' Amadeus sounded jovially. 'I've got to say, this place is not easy to find, had to make sure I had the right directions before I set off. Beautiful though, I can see why you stay here.' The mobian-fox glanced around the quaint wooden country kitchen they were surrounded by and smiled at its rustic simplicity. 'How is the arm?' His sky-blue eyes turned to Jules' arm as he slid onto the stool beside the cobalt-blue hedgehog.
'It's not too bad. Doesn't hurt like it used to anyway.' Jules responded with a smile as his hazel eyes glanced down at his yellow sling as his cast arm lay comfortably against the counter of the breakfast nook. His bowl of gumbo sitting abandoned now as he spoke to his captain while Missy observed the conversation silently from her seat opposite.
'That's good. Doctor Quack said that once the swelling went down the pain would ease up and you could return to work.' Amadeus sounded lightly.
'So when do I start back?' The cobalt hedgehog sounded keen to return to his duties.
'Tomorrow. General D'Coolette wants you to be back on as the palace will be hosting the debutante ball at the end of the week and we need to run through our security measures for such a prestigious event.'
'Oh great.' The cobalt teenager drawled sarcastically with a half roll of his eyes. The security measures around a royal event were ridiculously high and following them was even tougher. He'd been lucky enough that Hedgington Hall had not held anything up until this point.
'But what does General D'Coolette think I can do with my busted arm?' Jules asked curiously.
'You'll just be running surveillance sweeps with me and the rest of grounds patrol, it's a snap. I'll run you though it when your back tomorrow.' Amadeus sounded with a dismissive wave of his white-gloved hand. 'So what are you two having?' The older mobian-fox added curiously noting the spicy stew-like dish the pair had before them. Instantly reminded that his dinner was getting cold the cobalt hedgehog picked up his fork and shovelled another mouthful of vegetables and seafood into his mouth.
'It's mah home-made gumbo, yah wanna try some?' Missy immediately said, moving to get out of her seat to get another bowl. Jules who had been chewing his mouthful nodded as he swallowed then grinned.
'It's really good, you should try it.' He added brightly, digging his fork in again.
'Aw, thank yah sugah-quills; I knew you'd like it.' The honey-furred rabbit shut her pink-powered eyes and threw a smug smirk in his direction.
'Uh, no thank you. I should be heading off. I promised my wife I'd meet her in town once she'd finished with her news team.' Amadeus responded politely and got off of his stool with the intentions of saying his goodbyes and leaving. The moment he was about to move towards the door a beeping noise went off and the twenty-four year old mobian-fox pulled out a small black communicator and flipped the lid to reveal a keypad and screen. Whatever message had been displayed on the screen caused Amadeus Prower's brow to furrow before he sighed, speedily typed something back then snapped the lid shut and pocketing the device.
'On second thoughts I will have a bowl.' Amadeus immediately sat back down and Jules grinned widely.
'Lemmie guess, MNN's best news reporter has just sniffed out another late-breaking scoop.' The cobalt-blue seventeen year old smirked widely. Just like the rest of his colleges he had been surprised to find out that the Captain of the Royal Guard was married to a journalist, especially since he had never expressed much love for them.
'It would seem so Hedgehog.' Amadeus threw his private a wry smile as Missy placed a bowl in front of him. 'Thank you.' He added as the honey-furred rabbit took her seat again.
'Yah welcome hon.' She sounded warmly before tucking into her own bowl.
'Y'know, since we're not at work you can just call me by my first name.' The seventeen year old hedgehog said warmly, not comfortable being addressed by his surname in such a formal manner in his own home.
'On one condition.' Amadeus said seriously, holding his fork out as he paused from taking his first bite.
'What's that?' Jules sounded curiously, turning his eyes away from his own fork to look at the older mobian-fox.
'You drop the 'sir' and extend me the same courtesy.' Amadeus replied, his smile returning as he took his forkful of food. He instantly made a noise of both surprise and delight at the taste of the stew. 'Now, this is good!' He added warmly to the female rabbit across from him. Missy instantly flushed with pleasure.
'Oh. Thank yah kindly.' She uttered before continuing with her gumbo.
'Deal.' Jules grinned widely at his blushing friend before turning and answering his commanding officer.
After only a few days back in the palace Jules Hedgehog was beginning to wonder if he'd returned to work too soon. It wasn't the fact that the work was difficult, his broken right arm was a small hindrance it was true but nothing he couldn't handle. His problem was the teasing from some of the other guards about how he had broken it in the first place had started to get under his skin. But the cobalt-blue hedgehog soon found that being injured had managed to gain him a lot of sympathy from the female staff in the palace, especially the chambermaids who were a similar age to him. Pansy Possum and Kitty Carlisle, who were both already smitten with his dashing good-looks, practically pounced on him the first moment they got and clung to the hedgehog eager to please.
'Does it hurt Jules?' The lithe grey-furred mobian-possum sounded adoringly as her arm linked with the cobalt-blue hedgehog's. Pansy's eyelashes fluttered alluringly to him as she lent in. Unfortunately for her Jules wasn't under her spell, he tried to politely move her back before his attention was suddenly drawn to the white-furred mobian-cat who was stood behind him. The fingers of her dainty white hands had slinked onto his chest and were stroking him gently.
'Here, let me straighten your cravat.' She instantly corrected his slightly lop-sided red cravat then flashed him a seductive smirk from behind. 'Now how about a shoulder rub..' She added before her fingers slipped swiftly to his shoulders and began to caress him. At this action Pansy Possum pouted irritably at her partner.
'Hey! I was going to give him a massage!' She squealed in a whiny tone making Jules wince as her high-pitched voice made his eardrums vibrate.
'Well, you snooze you lose.' Kitty said dismissively as her fingers continued to work on the hedgehog who was starting to look uncomfortable.
'Well what am I supposed to rub?' Pansy sounded indignantly and Jules' warm-hazel eyes widened in horror at the possible answer to this.
'Whoa… whoa…' Immediately the cobalt hedgehog wrenched himself out of Kitty's grip and pulled himself away. 'Ladies, please…' Jules raised his uninjured hand in a stopping gesture. '-I appreciate the fuss but really, it's not necessary.' Both mobian-girls didn't appear to be taking his words in. They were just gazing at him with girlish desire as they clasped their hands together in an adoring fashion.
'Aww, he's so modest.' Pansy cooed as her eyes narrowed.
'And so cute..' Kitty added with a flirty smile as her eyelashes batted.
'Ohh… let me be your girl.' Pansy suddenly sounded keenly, rushing to a startled Jules and leaning gently on his left shoulder, staring into his warm hazel eyes hopefully.
'No. Pick me. We could have a lot of fun together.' Kitty said with a sly grin as she gripped his uninjured arm.
'I'll be true to you!' The blonde possum-mobian exclaimed immediately making Jules' eyes widen once more in shock at her desperation.
'I'll be true..' The white-furred cat-mobian said before pausing as her eyes rolled up thinking this statement over before then added in a sketchy tone. 'Ish.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog narrowed his eyes towards her but he soon became alarmed when both girls seemed to be pulling on him in a tug-of-war fashion, competing for his attention. This was too much for the patrol officer and his uninjured arm to take as it was starting to ache from all they're jerking tugs. The hedgehog then wrenched himself out of their grips and took several steps backwards so he was now in front of the door, in case he needed to make a swift exit.
'Girls, please. I don't want you fighting over me but the truth is-' Jules started to say, wanting to say that his heart already belonged to someone else, but a loud voice with horribly familiar foreign accent spoke from behind.
''Edgehog! When tu is finishing with chasing ze chambermaids, report to ze ballroom, tu de suite.' General D'Coolette's voice sounded sternly and Jules' blue-furred head and quills whipped around to see that his expression matched his tone. Behind the Royal Guard General was the familiar yellow-furred Argus looking gleefully at his colleague and friend. The mobian-wolf's dark green eyes glanced to his commanding officer who wasn't paying the slightest piece of attention to him before he mouthed 'chasing chambermaids, you dirty dog' with a wicked grin. Jules immediately glared at the accusation General D'Coolette had just made against him.
'I wasn't 'chasing chambermaids' they were hitting on me!' The cobalt-blue hedgehog retorted, still disregarding the two mobian-girls who were two busy gazing at General D'Coolette in a stunned silence to notice him now.
'I am not caring in one slight bit 'Edgehog, tu can be chasing as many chambermaids as tu are wanting but not while on ze time.' The mobian-coyote scowled while tapping his wrist watch impatiently. Argus had to slap a hand in front of his mouth to stop the snicker of amusement from bursting forth at his commanding officer's words. As Jules' warm hazel eyes narrowed with further annoyance at his so-called friend the yellow-furred fox mobian finally managed to control his snickers and resume a professional air.
'Clock, sir.' Argus chipped in at this point, finally drawing the general's sharp deep-blue eyes to him.
'Oh. Whatever. Noh Monsieur Fletcher, why don't tu be going to ze sentry lookout posts and be informing Corporal Peckers of zees meeting.' The French-speaking coyote sounded to the Private beside him before moving down the hall.
'Right away sir.' Argus saluted his general before throwing Jules another grin then sprinting down the hallway towards the stairs to the battlements.
'Yeh, you better run Fletcher.' Jules uttered throwing the mobian-wolf a death-glare then returning his attention to the two teenage chambermaids who had resumed their dreamy staring at him. 'Well, gotta run ladies. See ya!' He sounded before vanishing out in a blur of blue.
'Oohh..' Pansy swooned as her hands clasped together by her head.
'Whatta hedgehog.' Kitty added fanning herself, still looking dreamily at the empty doorway…
...The huge Hedgington Hall ballroom General D'Coolette had assembled the squad of Royal Guards that would be on shift at the night of the debutant ball. Jules found himself seated between Jasper and Argus as General D'Coolette was stood at the head of the group with Captain Prower talking about what would be happening in a few nights time.
'Noh, I will not be on dutee on ze night of ze debutant. 'Owever I will be in attendance with moi cheri Marie so I will be seeing everyzing zat is, how you say, going down.' The mobian-coyote twiddled his thin blonde moustache seriously.
'Figures ol' frenchie couldn't stay away for one night.' Jules murmured to himself as he wrapped his uninjured arm around his cast, cradling it gently. He wasn't really taking much of what General D'Coolette was saying, instead he was wondering idly if his commanding officer was going to finish this staff meeting before his appointment with Dr Quack to have his cast removed and redressed.
'Hey Jules. Argus tells me D'Coolette caught you frisking the chambermaids.' Jasper narrowed his light green eyes with a jesting grin as his mobian-wolf best friend smirked in amusement.
'I was not!' The cobalt-blue hedgehog hissed crossly, grabbing the black mobian-cat by his red cravat.
'Tu 'ave somezing to add 'Edgehog?' General D'Coolette sounded in a slightly jaded French drawl. Jules turned his blue head and quills to find his general looking at him with narrowed eyes as Captain Prower merely shook his head in disbelief. In addition to this the entire squad of Royal Guard officers were staring at him.
'Uhh…' The cobalt seventeen year-old patrol officer flashed a suddenly self-conscious grin, revealing his chipped premolar. 'No. not really, sir.' He added uncomfortably.
'Zen stop mobian-handling Monsieur Jacks and be paying attention.' The mobian-coyote sounded sternly as he placed his hands on his hips and scowled firmly. Jules immediately let go of Jasper's cravat and smoothed it flat with one large white-gloved hand.
'Sorry sir.' The cobalt hedgehog added and resumed his seated position in between his two work buddies, allowing General D'Coolette to continue running through the extra security measures for all the dignitaries in attendance at the debutant ball.
Jules Hedgehog cursed mildly and raised his uninjured white-gloved hand to his mouth and blew some heat into it before reaching down his huge navy coat, moving underneath his white and red striped scarf and covering his broken arm better from the freezing air. He shivered slightly and gripped the front of his overcoat better, holding it shut as his sling and arm-cast meant it wouldn't fasten properly. Winter had definitely begun. It was a dark frosty evening the night of the royal debutant ball and the entire west-side windows of the ballroom were lit up behind him as the faint notes of the string orchestra and sooty laughter could be heard. Jules' hazel eyes narrowed in slight tedium as they scanned the bare and frozen rear gardens of the palace before his head tilted upwards towards the dark sky. The stars and moon were hidden behind a thick blanket of cloud and the Mobius News Network had predicted that the first snow should fall some point this evening. Jules did not fully understand how those behind the weather report were able to predict the upcoming climates but he knew by the weather-meters sitting on one of the window ledges of his brother's studio-lab meant Charles did. The cobalt hedgehog, like most others in Knothole, just took the weather as it came. If for any reason he did want to know what the weather was like the next day Jules would ask his brother. He'd found Charles' predictions to be far more accurate than the national weather report, though amazingly, today his brother had come up with a similar prediction to the news. Jules' hazel eyes studied the thick grey clouds which were slightly lighter than the deep navy sky itself. They did look like snow clouds and the climate was perfect for the flakes, perhaps the notables inside would get lucky and the first snow would happen soon. The cobalt-blue hedgehog then blinked as if coming back to a sense of reality and his hazel eyes turned to the faint music strings and pretentious laughter coming from the debutant ball inside. Like those rich snobs were going to be impressed with the simple beauty behind the first fall of snowflakes…
Inside the toasty warm ballroom the string quartet was playing its classical piece as many of the high society guests were murmuring quietly away. At the double-door entrance to the room from the grand hallway stood the royal announce; still loudly announcing many guests that were entering the room. Standing nervously to one side was a slim but pretty echidna with soft red fur and matching quills that were braided with ribbons and pinned back into a low bun that rested on her shoulder-blades. Her soft green eyes could see Lord and Lady Montclair, a couple of incredibly wealthy blonde-furred minks, conversing with the Duke of Verron who had just asked the couple on how their new-born son was.
'Oh dear little Bartleby is doing absolutely splendidly thank you for asking..' Lord Montclair was saying in a low nasally drawl with a contented smile. '-but, naturally, we couldn't bring him, could we dearest?' He added to his wife and the female mink looked just as smug as her husband.
'Oh my no.' Lady Montclair added in a snobbish drawl of her own. 'Our little Barty isn't ready to be exposed to the public yet and we wouldn't dream of overwhelming him.'
'Oh good heavens, we wouldn't want him doing anything to embarrass us, he's better off with his nannies for now..' Lord Montclair added making the almost sixteen year old echidna frown slightly at the incredibly snobby mink couple.
'Miss Le..' The sound of her surname being called politely made the female echidna in a soft green ball-gown turn to see another teenage echidna with brown-fur and quills dressed in a smart blue suit approach her with a smile. Lara-Le couldn't help but flush with pleasure as he took her hand respectively and kissed it before speaking again. 'It does my heart good to see you again Lara; I do hope you have been keeping well.'
'Wynmacher..' The female echidna smiled warmly at her friend. 'It is wonderful to see you again. I have been keeping very well, thank you for asking. What about yourself?'
'Ohh..' He sighed heavily looking momentary down before smiling again. 'My father has been keeping me busy but then, that's nothing new. I hear your father is looking to find you a provider?' His subtle question made Lara-Le blush even though it shouldn't have surprised her that Wynmacher Mace would learn of this.
'Um, y-yes... yes he is.' She stammered making her slight embarrassment more obvious.
'I did not mean to intrude Lara, I was merely curious as to who he had in mind as a match.' Wynmacher said gently as he stood beside her at a respectful distance with his hands behind his back.
'I do not know who father has in mind.' Lara-Le replied gently as her soft-green eyes glanced around to her father. Ambassador Zayden and his wife Lady Mimi-Le were conversing happily with a couple of the other dignitaries not too far away. 'But I'm sure whomever he picks he will pick because he believes it is a smart match.' She added in a soft submissive tone that made Wynmacher frown with concern towards her.
'And who would you pick as a provider given the choice?' He asked gently but before she could respond to his very forward question her attention, just like everyone else's in the room, was caught by the sound of trumpets and the royal announcer.
'Ladies and Gentlemobians; announcing his Royal Highness King Ogilvie the Third of Mobius.' At this announcement silence befell the room and all the eyes of the dignitaries turned towards the royal hedgehog. The King of Mobius was wearing a smart white suit along with his red cape and royal crown. Once he'd descended the steps down from the main doors many of the dignitaries bowed as he passed them, the royal green-quilled hedgehog nodding his head politely and greeting the gathering of dignitaries that were eager to converse with their king. A little way away from him Lara-Le could clearly see King Ogilvie's oldest friend General D'Coolette and his wife Madame Marie D'Coolette conversing with the new mayor, a light-brown-furred fox-mobian by the name of Maximilloin Acorn. Accompanying Mayor Acorn to this debutant was his intended sweetheart who was a very pretty mobian-chipmunk. She had long copper-red head-fur which was set in ringlets and bright sapphire-blue eyes that complimented her svelte navy dress. The girl-mobian, who couldn't have been much older than Lara-Le herself was looking incredibly nervous, clearly it was her first time at such an important social event. But despite her nerves she seemed to be holding well with the nobles around her, almost as if she were determined to prove she could fit in.
'My apologies Lara, I did not mean to be so forward with you.' Wynmacher's voice suddenly spoke, drawing Lara-Le's attention back to the brown-furred echidna beside her. 'I was merely curious but your right; it isn't my place to ask such questions.'
'Oh. No it's fine Wynmacher; I don't know who I would pick but the question is irrelevant since my father is choosing my provider.' She said calmly, finding his curiosity pointless and folding her arms with a slight frown marring her pretty face.
'Yes. I suppose it is.' The brown-furred echidna said in agreement, closing his dark-blue eyes as an unreadable line pressed his lips. His eyes opened once more and turned to the stairs at the entrance of the double-doors as the trumpets sounded once more…
…Deciding to move on with his patrol the cobalt-blue hedgehog moved his feet over the frosted sandstone paving slabs, enjoying the satisfying crunch of the frost on the thick sole of his red boots. As Jules wandered around the conical-pyramid palace something cold and wet hit his left pointed-ear making it twitch before his hazel eyes looked upwards again to see the first flakes of white falling towards him. The seventeen year old hedgehog smiled widely and shut his eyes, letting the first of the snowflakes hit his face. Winter had always been his favourite time of the year, especially when the snow arrived with its promise of snowball fights, sledging and other fun winter activities that could turn even Charles into a hedgehoglet again. Once the tiny white flakes had started to fall there seemed to be no stopping them and the palace grounds were soon covered in a light dusting of white powdery snow while more kept falling.
At this moment he heard the trumpets signalling the second royal announcement of the evening. Jules opened his eyes and turned towards the large full-length window, from which he could clearly see the stairs to the main double-doors of the ballroom and he was just in time to see them open. In that moment the lilac-furred royal hedgehog was revealed to the room and to the cobalt male's warm hazel eyes. Jules had not seen the Princess of Mobius since returning to work at the start of the week. She had been away from the palace with her father in Albion, speaking with the Echidnae High Council in regards to their position concerning Mobius' war with the Overlanders. But with all the guards that had not been on duty for the debutant ball had been on the king's elite guard and were off duty this evening.
'Announcing her Royal Highness Princess Aleena of Mobodoon..' The announcer's voice sounded and the petit lilac-furred hedgehog moved delicately into the light of the ballroom. Jules couldn't help but gaze at her, now completely dismissing the snowflakes that were still floating down and steadily getting faster. The lilac-furred princess smiled serenely as she moved to the top of the steps down to the ballroom. She was wearing a pearly white dress that stopped just below her feet complete with white and pink embroidered corset. Her blonde head-quills were pinned up in a tight bun while a loose side-bang hung over her face.
'Whoa..' Jules breathed out in a quiet whisper of admiration as he watched Princess Aleena step gracefully down the stairs, lifting the hem of her dress just enough to reveal a dainty lilac-furred ankle. She was breath-taking; he could feel his heart thump hard against his ribcage as he watched her approach the crowd smiling gracefully as she greeted her peers. He had almost forgotten about the cold night air and the snow falling down thick and fast now, covering the ground in a thin white blanket. But his heart congealed a little, remembering that they could never be. They were from two different worlds, tonight only served as solidifying proof of that. His ears dipped slightly and he pulled away from the window, unable to watch anymore…
…Suddenly the sound of the glass double-doors banging open caused Jules' head and blue-quills to swivel around in time to see a figure appear out into the rear patio of the palace.
'Oh wow..' The silhouetted female breathed in awe at the falling flakes of powdery snow in such a familiar voice it made Jules narrow his eyes and scrutinize her. The female then turned back and moved slightly into the light as someone back in the ballroom caught her attention. 'I'll be back in a minute Max; I just want to see the snow.' She called out with a smile on her light-tanned muzzle and soft-brown fur. Upon seeing her copper-red ringlets and svelte figure wrapped up in a tight navy dress Jules couldn't help but stare.
'Alice?' The cobalt-blue hedgehog sounded, unable to stop himself due to his surprise at the sight of his ex-girlfriend after not seeing her since they split up a year and two months ago. At the sound of this familiar nickname the red-headed chipmunk-mobian whipped around to see the cobalt-blue hedgehog gazing at her in amazement.
'Oh my gosh.. Juice!' Alicia's eyes widened in shock before a wide smile curved her light-tanned muzzle and the female chipmunk-mobian tottered over to her ex-boyfriend as fast as the slippery snow-covered ground would allow. Though with her heels moving in the snow proved tricky and just as she was approaching the cobalt-blue hedgehog Alicia's foot slipped and she skidded, flailing her arms. 'Wuh-woo..' She squealed and Jules instantly moved forward and caught her around the middle with his one good arm, the grips of his red-rubber boots keeping him upright. Alicia's arms clasped his shoulders as her feet stopped sliding and her copper-red head fell into the hedgehog's shoulder. In that moment the light-brown-furred mobian-chipmunk's senses were filled with the familiar smell of his zesty aftershave and it brought back many cherished memories of their dating days. Her sapphire-blue eyes automatically closed as she hugged Jules while taking in his scent.
'Careful..' The cobalt-blue hedgehog said gently as his uninjured arm held her mid-back, keeping the seventeen year old mobian-chipmunk steady. At the sound of his rich voice Alicia opened her blue eyes and pulled away from her ex-boyfriend's shoulder to look into his face.
'Heh.. Thanks Juice.' The female chipmunk-mobian said as snowflakes landed in her neat copper-red ringlets, adding flecks of white to her neat furdo. Slowly Alicia pulled away from Jules, instantly regretting this move as his body heat had warded off the cold night air.
'It's good to see you again.' She added lightly as she raised her light-brown-furred hands and rubbed her bare shoulders. Her fur was fine and not nearly long enough to cope with the winter chill.
'It's nice to see you too.' Jules replied with genuine sincerity before noticing how cold she looked and he frowned in concern at his ex-girlfriend. 'Here, you want my jacket? You must be freezing.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog gestured to the navy overcoat he was wearing, about to shrug it off for her.
'Oh. I don't know if I should, won't it be a bit weird if I take your jacket?' Alicia Chipmunk responded unsurely. She was freezing but this was her ex-boyfriend who she had unceremoniously dumped at the end of their school years together after discovering he was not particularly fussed about his future, or theirs. Immediately Jules Hedgehog frowned at his ex-girlfriend, if there was two things about her he did not miss it was her insane ability to rationalize and overthink everything while being almost as stubborn as him.
'Alice..' He said in the same plain and straight-talking voice he always used to make her see his point. 'Just take the jacket before you freeze, ok?' He'd already shrugged the overcoat off and was holding it out to her with his one good arm.
'Ok.' Alicia relented and took the overcoat from him and slipped it on, pulling her copper-red ringlets loose from the collar and hugging herself with a smile, shutting her eyes and allowing his warmth to heat her up. When she opened her eyes she couldn't help but notice his bright yellow sling. The hedgehog was now using his old white and red striped scarf to stop the snow from wetting his arm-cast by wrapping it around the bandaging.
'How did you break your arm?' Alicia asked, returning her sapphire-blue eyes to her ex-boyfriend and throwing him a look of concern now. 'Cocoa told me you'd broken it but she wouldn't tell me how.' This made Jules' neat brows rise in surprise, Cocoa Cat the Gossip Queen of Mobotroplis had not told her best friend this titillating piece of information?
'I fell out a tree and landed on it awkwardly.' Jules responded in a nonchalant drawl, not wishing to enlighten his ex-girlfriend that it was actually because he'd been knocked out of said tree by the Princess of Mobius.
'Ouch.' Alicia clasped her fingers over her mouth and winced at this pityingly. 'How long do you have to keep the cast on?'
'Got another three weeks then the cast comes off and I have physio for a further four weeks to help my arm get back in shape.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog said in an offhanded manner before changing the subject, his expression turning slightly more serious. 'So I heard from Cocoa you've been seeing some older mobian. Is this who 'Max' is?' Jules kinked a brow as his hazel eyes narrowed towards her.
'Um, yes. We met at the Mobian Council building. You remember how I applied for the job of council court scribe? Well I got it. Max used to intern under the Minister of Education, at least he did until he was nominated for mayor candidacy. I then helped him out with his campaign where we got to know each other better and he asked me out. I really think you'd like him Juice, he's a really down to Mobius guy.' Alicia was smiling while looking off in a slightly dreamy fashion. Her words made Jules blink with the sudden realisation of just who she was talking about.
'Wait a nanosec. Mayoral candidacy? You mean that your Max is actually-' The hedgehog didn't get to finish his sentence as at this point a voice called out from the double-doors further down the palace patio.
'Alicia! You still out here?' The sound of this upper-class male voice caused both Alicia and Jules to turn their heads and see a light-brown mobian fox standing in a mid-blue suit with and yellow tie, wearing black shoes with white spats. Whereas Alicia smiled warmly at him Jules couldn't help but stare at the mobian in front of him… this was none other than Mayor Maximillion Acorn.
'I'm over here Max, but can you give me a few more minutes? I'm just catching up with an old friend.' Alicia waved to her new partner and Jules kinked a brow at her and leaned in with a mischievous grin.
'Don'tcha mean old boyfriend..' The cobalt-blue hedgehog purred in her soft-brown pointed ear and it twitched causing the mobian-chipmunk to swivel her red-head around and scowl at him.
'Shoosh..!' She hissed back, her sapphire blue eyes flashing a warning glare as her lips twisted into an irritable pout. Jules couldn't help but grin at Alicia's expression of annoyance, winding her up had always been fun since she took things so seriously. At her words Maximillion Acorn rolled his light-blue eyes in a slightly jaded manner but eventually flashed his sweetheart a light smile, relenting to her request.
'Alright Alicia darling but don't stay out too long, I don't want you catching a chill. Besides, I was hoping we might partake in a dance before the evening is out.' The light-brown-furred mobian-fox sounded in a posh upper-class tone. He then turned back around and entered the ballroom with a regal wave to his beloved. Alicia gave a small wave back before her attention was caught by Jules' childish snickering.
'Oh yes. Now tell me, which dance shall you be 'partaking in' my dear Alice. Shall it be the foxtrot?' The cobalt-blue seventeen year old hedgehog said in a mock-snooty accent before snorting into laughter. This caused Alicia's eyes to narrow further and her hands went to the waist of his navy overcoat.
'Shut up Juice!' She fizzed with irritation. The female chipmunk-mobian knew Jules was only teasing her and she could just about handle him poking fun at her. However she wasn't going to let him make fun of her new boyfriend without knowing who he was first.
'Whoa.. Alright, cool it girl. I was only kidding..' The cobalt-blue hedgehog raised his uninjured hand in a form of defeat, not wishing to insight another argument so soon after reconciling with her. 'I see your just as uptight as I remember..' He added with a small sigh before flinching, expecting her to punch him for such a remark but amazingly Alicia suddenly flashed a devious smile.
'And your still as annoying as I remember..' She threw back and her comment made Jules grin widely, flashing the chip in his premolar.
'Hey, I'd say I try but you know me, I don't have to.' The hedgehog said lightly with a shrug.
'Uh-huh.' Alicia sounded in agreement before changing the subject. 'So Cocoa's told me that you've been mooning over some girl called Bernadette. Is this true?' Her sapphire-blue eyes suddenly looked keen for information. Jules could sense by her tone that she'd clearly been curious about this for quite some time and was using this chance meeting to find out the truth. The cobalt-blue hedgehog gave a low groan and slapped his blue-furred forehead, trying best to think how best to explain this mess to his ex-girlfriend.
'Uh, yeh I was… but I had to break things off with her.' Jules finally responded, his eyes narrowed and his shoulders sagged as his cobalt pointed-ears dipped a little. 'Things are just too complicated for it to ever really work out between us.' Immediately Alicia Chipmunk's sapphire-blue eyes softened in pity and she moved closer to the cobalt-blue hedgehog and placed a hand on his shoulder.
'Too complicated?' The red-headed chipmunk-mobian asked gently then frowned in slight concern. 'I don't understand, I heard you liked this girl..' Jules let out a heaving sigh as Alicia rubbed his shoulder in a cajoling manner.
'I did, I mean, I do…' The cobalt-blue hedgehog corrected himself instantly, his warm-hazel eyes looking down at his scarf-covered cast which was surrounded by his snow-dusted sling. '-but like I said; it's complicated.'
'Do you wanna talk about it?' Alicia offered gently her blue eyes still studying him. 'You know you can trust me to be honest with you.' She added sincerely throwing him a coaxing smile. Jules threw her a scrutinizing look wondering vaguely why she still cared about him after all this time. However the hedgehog eventually relented, he needed some female perspective on this and Alicia was right, she was the best mobian to give him it. Jules then pulled out his golden pocket-watch and checked to see how long he had until he was due to do a perimeter sweep.
'I guess we have time. You mind if we walk and talk Alice, I need to continue my security check.' Jules said, throwing his ex-girlfriend a small smile back then offered his uninjured arm to the female chipmunk-mobian who accepted it immediately.
'Sure..' She replied sweetly and the two of them began to walk away from the lights and noise of the debutant ball…
The snow had let up a little as Jules Hedgehog walked slowly with his ex-girlfriend Alicia Chipmunk. It was now only floating down from the dark sky in a light powder which barely made any difference to the thin blanket of white covering the palace grounds. The moment the pair of seventeen year old mobians left the lit-up patio the cobalt-hedgehog pulled out his torch from his bright-red utility belt so they could still see their surroundings. Occasionally Jules would flash the light in a darkened corner or disappear for a few seconds to check out a blind spot in their path. As the two teenagers walked along, Jules told Alicia about 'Bernadette' while keeping out the vital detail of her being the king's daughter. By the time the two of them had turned back and returned to the patio light up by the ballrooms lit-up windows the cobalt hedgehog had finished catching Alicia up with his situation.
'I still don't understand Juice..' Alicia finally spoke in a soft voice as the inside of the ballroom came to view as they passed the first floor-length window. Jules had now been walking with his one good hand behind his back. A faint shiver ran over the hedgehog as he had given up his overcoat, this meant the cold night-air was starting to seep into his blue fur and uniform. '-if you really like this girl why did you break it off?' The female chipmunk-mobian gripped his white-gloved hand stopping him from walking any further.
'Because we're from two completely different worlds Alice!' Jules hissed back, only raising his voice enough to make his anger obvious. 'Haven't you been listening?'
'Of course I have..' Alicia said in a placating voice, her hands moved to his shoulders to stop the blue hedgehog from walking again. 'But if you really like this girl Juice, her background shouldn't stop you from pursuing her. Look at me and Max, we're from two different worlds but we still manage to make it work.'
'Rrrr…!' Jules growled irritably in the back of his throat and swiped her hands away before swivelling around with a sulky pout. 'You just don't get it! It's not that simple!' He wished he could fold his arms but instead all the cobalt-blue hedgehog could do was lay his uninjured arm on top of his scarf-covered cast and drum it gently.
'Then explain it to me.' Alicia said, moving beside him and gazing at him with concerned sapphire-blue eyes.
'I…' Jules began before tailing off sighing and hanging his cobalt-blue head in shame. '-can't.'
'Whadda you mean you can't?' The light-furred female chipmunk scowled at her ex-boyfriend and immediately Jules lifted his head giving her a pained look from deep within his hazel eyes.
'It's complicated.' He said, his gaze steeling over slightly as he tried to harbour his emotions once more.
'So you keep saying Juice but that doesn't really explain anything.' Alicia responded gently moving to touch him consolingly but he slapped her hand away with his one good arm.
'Why do you care?' Jules suddenly snapped angrily, voicing his curiosity about why she wanted to help him figure this out.
'I've always cared, even after we split up.' The mobian-chipmunk said softly looking slightly hurt by the fact that he seemed to think she didn't. 'In fact, the truth is I have missed hanging out with both you and the guys.'
'Really?' Jules kinked a brow curiously at this statement and the female chipmunk nodded eagerly.
'Of course. You guys were always such fun to be with and I was so jealous when Cocoa told me they were all going up to Knothole for your birthday.' Alicia said with a sweet smile towards him.
'Can I ask you something Alice?' The cobalt hedgehog was suddenly looking very serious now.
'Anything.' The female chipmunk-mobian replied keeping her expression solemn as she had a feeling that she knew what he was going to ask.
'Was I really such a bad guy?' Jules asked her in a tone which had a subtle hint of curiosity and fear. This was obviously something that had been bothering him for quite some time but now she was here to answer him. Alicia realised that this must be a small part of why Jules was not pursuing Bernadette. He needed to know what he'd done wrong with her.
'No, you weren't a bad guy Juice.' The red-headed chipmunk replied with a short sigh, leaning back on the two-foot stone-partition separating the patio from the drop to the lower-gardens. 'You were very sweet to me when you were around but I kinda got the impression that you'd just rather be off with your friends than spend time with me.' Alicia said softly her hands suddenly clasped together in the lap of the large navy overcoat she was wearing. 'You always seem to just live in the moment. It's not a bad thing Juice but it was never what I wanted. I wanted a future.'
'And I couldn't give you that.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
'No. No. That's not what I meant..' Alicia said instantly, lifting her hands and waving them dismissively. 'We just wanted different things. But when we broke up I always wanted us to remain friends.' She them lent in and set her small hand on top of his bandaged hand. 'I still want that.' Jules looked into her pretty sapphire-blue eyes and smiled at her.
'Yeh. I'd like that too.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog sounded amiably as his unbound hand rested on top of hers.
'So, as your friend, tell me why things are so complicated with this Bernadette girl.' Alicia added seriously, getting straight back to the matter at hand. Immediately Jules sighed and broke hand-contact with her.
'Nothing deters you, does it?' He said and Alicia shook her light-furred head making her copper-red ringlets sprinkle the snowflakes on her head. 'Alright Alice, here it is in a nutshell. Bernadette comes from this really posh family, right? With really old traditions and a huge amount is expected of her when she gets older-'
'Is she here tonight?' Alicia interrupted in a gentle voice throwing the blue hedgehog a curious look.
'Yeh, she is I glimpsed her earlier.' Jules answered before continuing. 'Anyway, she's such a high-class honey that everyone in her family's circle will be expecting her to marry some rich bozo who can take care of her. Y'know, it wouldn't even surprise me if that's what this ball was really about, trying to find her a guy..' This last statement was saying far more to Alicia than Jules had meant it to. The female chipmunk-mobian gazed at the ex-boyfriend in disbelief at his words before noticing that his hazel eyes were staring off towards the inside of the ballroom window. Following his gaze Alicia noticed that Jules seemed to be absent-mindedly following the blonde-quilled Princess of Mobius as she was chatting amiably with her father and the D'Coolette's.
'Jules, do you still like this girl?' The light-brown chipmunk-mobian asked directly and Jules immediately ripped his eyes away from the princess to look at Alicia. The cobalt-blue hedgehog let out a quiet sigh and closed his eyes for a long moment before his hazel eyes opened again.
'I do..' Jules finally replied. It felt weird to actually admit it out loud but the moment he had he felt like a small section of the weight in his heart had lifted.
'Then you have to tell her.' Alicia said bluntly.
'But I haven't got anything to offer her and think what the nobles in there say-'
'Since when did you start caring what a bunch of upper-class narks thought?' The female chipmunk-mobian got up and kinked a brow intrigued by this new humble side to Jules, though unfortunately it wasn't the side she wanted to see. She wanted him to be the same cocky hedgehog that had won her affections just over four years ago. Alicia immediately gripped his hand and smiled at her ex-boyfriend. 'Listen Juice, this girl must see wealth and power every day, right? You can offer her something more than that, the chance to just be a girl. Trust me, that's worth more than all the jewels in the world.' She smiled widely at him and Jules blinked, considering what she was saying to him. Perhaps he had been looking at this all wrong.
'Alicia..' The sound of a familiar upper-class voice sounded and immediately the two seventeen year old mobians turned to see Maximillion Acorn standing by the open glass doors. 'Are you ready to come inside?' He asked as both Alicia and Jules headed over towards the fox-mobian in the blue suit.
'Yes I am.' Alicia sounded with a smile before shrugging off Jules' heavy overcoat and handing it back to her ex-boyfriend. 'Max I want you to meet Jules Hedgehog. I've told you about him before..' She added sweetly to the fox-mobian who had automatically wrapped an arm around her bare shoulders and began rubbing them lightly.
'Ah! Yes, yes, I remember. Jules it's nice to finally meet you, Alicia always speaks very highly of you..' Maximillion sounded warmly, shaking hands with the cobalt hedgehog's uninjured left hand. 'As does my cousin.'
'Your cousin?' Jules asked curiously and immediately Maximillion's grin twisted.
'Amadeus Prower.' The fox-mobian replied lightly.
'Oh. Oh right. He's your cousin? Wow… he sure likes to keep that quiet.' Jules blinked in amazement.
'I'm not surprised. Amadeus is a very private mobian.' Maximillion responded lazily.
'And just what ees going on outside here, hmm?' A familiar French accent sounded causing Jules to groan inwardly as General D'Coolette appeared from behind the three of them. ''Edgehog, what are tu doing, tu 'ave a perimeter sweep to be performing, oui?' The coyote-mobian threw his on-duty private a stern glare.
'Uh, yup, sure do. Was just leaving in fact.' Jules responded but Alicia immediately spoke up.
'Oh. I'm sorry General D'Coolette, you must forgive me. I'm the one who distracted Jules from his duties. You see, he's an old friend who I haven't seen for quite some time and I dragged Max out here to meet him.' She sounded innocently enough and Jules wanted to slap his face with disbelief while Maximillion was also gazing at her in surprise.
'Eees zat so Mademoiselle Cheepmunk?' The Royal Guard General eyed her shrewdly, as if trying to determine whether or not she was trustworthy. 'Being zat as eet may, eet ees not changing zee fact that 'Edgehog is on dutee..' He added folding his arms while still looking sternly.
'Now steady on Armand..' Maximillion began, raising his hand to the general's shoulder. 'There was no harm done.'
'I am not caring Monsieur Acorn, he is supposed to be guarding zee palace-' General D'Coolette's words were suddenly cut off by a regal accent coming from the glass doorway.
'And you are supposed to be inside with your wife..' Immediately everyone's eyes turned to see the green-quilled King of Mobius standing with a slight frown directed at his old friend. '-isn't that right old boy?' The mobian-coyote deflated immediately at the sight of his ruler and best friend with his arms folded. The sight would have been comical if the situation was less serious.
'But mon majeste..' General D'Coolette drawled in a simpering tone complete with wide grin. 'I was merely taking care of ze business.'
'Armand… it is Captain Prower's job to keep the privates in line tonight, not yours. Your duty is to your wife, now come along before I turn this into a royal order.' King Ogilvie the Third flashed his friend a momentary warning look and General D'Coolette sighed heavily. Sometimes he hated having a king for a best friend.
'Oui, mon majeste..' He drawled before flashing Jules a frown then turning his attention to Alicia and Maximillion. 'Allez, allez.. let us be going inside.' He waved his hands in an ushering manner. Alicia flashed Jules a quick wave while mouthing 'bye' while Max nodded politely then the pair allowed themselves to be herded inside the ballroom. The doors then shut and Jules was once more out in the cold alone. He smiled lightly to himself as he unwound his scarf from his cast then put in back around his neck before heading off to perform his perimeter sweep.
The night moved on without any more surprises and soon enough the dignitaries and other debutant guests had gone home. It was at this point Jules Hedgehog appeared in the grand hallway looking for Captain Prower so he could be relieved of duty for the evening. Due to his final perimeter sweep of the grounds he was now the last officer besides his captain left on palace grounds. As Jules moved further down the hallway he found King Ogilvie the Third with his daughter and the D'Coolettes saying goodnight to each other. As he got closer Marie D'Coolette was hugging Princess Aleena while General D'Coolette was speaking with Captain Prower. The green-quilled monarch seemed to be watching his friend with narrowed maroon eyes.
'Bonne nuit ma belle, et fais surtout de beaux reves.' The light-tanned wife of General D'Coolette was saying her goodnight to the lilac-furred princess in French, hugging her tightly.
'Merci Marie, bonne nuit.' Princess Aleena replied with a smile hugging her back just as tight. Jules gazed in amazement at the fact that the blonde-quilled female hedgehog had just spoken French but he couldn't deny that her regal accent made it sound very arousing. The cobalt hedgehog suddenly blinked, mentally slapping himself for letting his restraint slip a little. He couldn't help how he felt, he'd spent the last three months trying to deny and ignore his feelings but Alicia had been right. If there was even the slightest chance that he and Princess Aleena could be together he had to take it… but first he had to find out if she still had feelings for him.
'And how was everyzing zees evening Capteen Prower, satisfactoree I am 'oping?' The tan-furred mobian-coyote asked curiously. The golden-furred mobian-fox smiled warmly at his commanding officer.
'Yes, everything went smoothly.' Captain Prower replied amiably, the hint of pride in his voice unmistakable.
'Ees zat so..' General D'Coolette added with a kink of the eyebrow. 'And what about 'Edgehog? You plan to be 'aving ze word with him?'
'About what?' Captain Prower frowned confused to his general as King Ogilvie, who'd been saying goodnight to Madame D'Coolette, paused and turned his attention to his old friend.
'About socializing on ze job..' The coyote-mobian sounded with a scowl.
'No sir. I never witnessed anything of the sort but even if I had it did not interfere with how he performed his duties so I have no reason to call him on it.' Captain Prower added in a serious voice, folding his white-gloved hands across his chest defiantly. Jules couldn't help but feel a sudden rush of respect for his captain who was willing to defend him against General D'Coolette.
'Cest que ce?' The French coyote-mobian sounded, his scowl deepening towards his lower ranking officer.
'Armand..' King Ogilvie's voice drawled as he approached his workaholic friend from behind and rested a hand on his shoulder. 'We've been over this already my friend; Captain Prower is in charge tonight.' General D'Coolette's deep blue eyes narrowed at his king's words.
'Urhh…' The mobian-coyote gave a deep dissatisfied groan. 'Oui mon majeste..' His eyes then caught a glimpse of movement just inside their peripheral vision and immediately General D'Coolette turned his head slightly, spotting Jules approaching with what he viewed as a moronic smile. 'Speaking of ze bleu fuel..' He muttered to himself.
'Sir, don't you think it's time you escorted your wife home?' Captain Prower suggested at this point. 'Jules and I can handle the final lockdown.'
'That is an excellent suggestion captain.' King Ogilvie declared brightly before wrapping an arm around the tan-furred thirty-six year old coyote-mobian.
'Oui Armand, il se fait tard.' Marie D'Coolette sounded as both her hands wrapped around her husband's arm. General D'Coolette turned his gaze to his wife as the lithe French womobian smiled sweetly to her husband. Immediately the coyote-mobian's face softened towards his wife, noticing how tired she was now.
'Aright.. tu boys are winning.' The coyote-mobian drawled as Marie D'Coolette cuddled into her husband and they linked arms. He then turned his deep blue eyes to his wife adding lightly. 'Allez bein au domicile de la tete de let.' The pair then walked down the hall towards the main front door of Hedgington Hall.
'Au revoir..' Both D'Coolettes said together and General D'Coolette flashed both Amadeus and Jules a fleeting glance before the couple left the palace behind.
'Hedgehog..' Captain Prower's voice suddenly sounded professionally, he seemed more relaxed now that his commanding officer had gone home. '-why don't you escort the princess to her chambers then you are relieved of duty. I can take care of palace security..' He then glanced towards King Ogilvie the Third and added lightly. 'Does this meet with your approval sire?' The King of Mobius smiled at Captain Prower warmly.
'Absolutely my dear boy and when you're done locking the palace join me in the study and we'll toast a nightcap.' The green-quilled monarch grinned at the Captain of the Royal Guard.
'Thank you your majesty, I would be honoured to join you.' Amadeus Prower nodded as he pulled out the keys to the palace and headed out towards the main gate to the lock it. The King of Mobius smiled before turning to Princess Aleena and Private Jules.
'Goodnight you two..' He said in a low pleasant tone which subtly signalled it was time to go to bed.
'Goodnight sire..' Jules said amiably as King Ogilvie the Third headed up to the first floor where his private study was located.
'Goodnight daddy..' Princess Aleena added with a sweet smile to her father.
The two teenage hedgehogs waited until the King of Mobius was out of sight and they were completely alone in the massive hallway. Jules then turned to the lilac-furred princess standing beside him and gazed at her for a long moment. Princess Aleena smiled at him sweetly as his hazel eyes flicked over her dress and the large pink heart necklace she was wearing.
'You look... amazing Aleena.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog sounded in reverence, unable to take his warm-hazel eyes off of her. His white-gloved hand moved as if he was going to touch her waist then thought better of it.
'Thank you Jules.' She murmured in a slightly breathless manner, her heart skipped with joy as she watched him continue to gaze through narrowed eyes at her. His pupils then turned to the large pink heart necklace. This time the fingers of his uninjured hand moved to touch the necklace, grazing her collarbone as he lifted it to examine it closely. Princess Aleena's breath hitched with slight excitement at his touch.
'It's called the Heart of Mobius..' The lilac-furred royal hedgehog informed Jules as he looked at it. 'My father gave it to my mother as an engagement present then passed it on to me on my sixteenth birthday.' The cobalt male hedgehog then let the pink-diamond stone fall back onto her breast.
'It's lovely.' He murmured quietly before his hazel eyes turned to meet her green ones suddenly looking both serious and a touch nervous. 'Come on it's getting late; I better escort you to your rooms.' He held out his uninjured arm to her and Princess Aleena accepted it, linking her arm around his.
'Of course but may we talk on the way?' The blonde-quilled princess sounded sweetly, a flash of hope was shining in her emerald-green eyes now. He had not escorted her to her chambers since they had discontinued their friendship and since there was nobody else in the palace apart from her father and Captain Prower, who were out of sight and earshot, she felt bold enough to say the things she needed to get off her chest.
'I have missed your company these last few months..' Princess Aleena spoke these words in a soft, slightly timid voice as she was not sure just sort of reaction they would get. Jules' hazel eyes blinked and his mouth twitched as if he'd been about to smile but then changed his mind.
'Actually, I want to talk to you about that.' The cobalt male hedgehog sounded making his lilac female counterpart raise her brows intrigued.
'You do?' Princess Aleena said, feeling her heart dip slightly, not expecting this to be good news.
'Yeh..' Jules replied as his own insides quivered with nerves. He took a slow breath to try and steady himself as admitting his feelings had always been difficult for him and he wanted to do this as properly as possible, as a princess she deserved that much. 'Aleena, do you know why I severed ties with you?' The lilac-furred royal hedgehog thought carefully, trying to recall exactly what he had said to her on the battlements right after his birthday. The two hedgehogs had just arrived at the first floor and turned to take the hall towards the next set of stairs to her chambers on the second floor.
'Well, as I recall you said we were 'too different' to ever be and that our kiss was a mistake.' The lilac-furred princess said softly and Jules felt a small fleck of guilt pulse inside his stomach as he remembered how upset he had made her with his words.
'I know I said that Ali, and I'm sorry about hurting you, I just…' He tailed of feeling his throat close up a little once more, that nervous feeling washing over him once more as he was about to lay himself bare to her. 'I just…' He tried again but he still found himself taking shaky breaths.
'You just, what?' Princess Aleena's emerald green eyes scanned his face concerned, she let her other hand rest on his larger white-gloved hand and stroked his knuckles gently. Jules' hazel eyes turned to her and she could see his anxiety clearly. The pair were climbing the large sweeping stairs to the second floor of the palace now, almost approaching her private chambers.
'I just wanted to spare us from a chaos-load of pain when we realised that it was never meant to be..' The cobalt-blue hedgehog said gently and a rush of sympathy swept over the princess.
'I understand that Jules-' The lilac-furred hedgehog with blonde-quills fixed into a bun smiled at him but was forestalled from completing her sentence.
'Aleena, please… I'm not finished.' Jules said gently, wanting to finish while he could still muster the strength.
'I apologise.' She sounded sweetly and gestured for him to continue.
'No, it's me who should apologise. I was wrong, I realise that now.' This made Princess Aleena blink in surprise at his words.
'You were?' The blonde-quilled princess sounded in an almost breathless tone, her heart suddenly skipping a beat then drumming faster in her chest, barely able to believe what he was saying.
'Yeh.' Jules sounded gently, his voice actually beginning to quiver with nerves as they approached the main door to her chambers. 'It never occurred to me that it might've already been too late..' The lilac-furred hedgehog took a sharp intake of breath immediately realising what he was saying. She was about to open her mouth to say something when Jules forestalled her again.
'I guess what I'm trying to say is...' Jules unlinked arms with her so he could rake his fingers through his fringe of blue quills nervously. They were now stood facing each other outside her chamber door, the hallway around them completely deserted. Suddenly the pupils of his narrowed hazel eyes dilated and his gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth. '-I wanna try that kiss again.' His cobalt-blue head and quills leant over towards her lilac-furred face. His free hand raised to stroke her pale-skinned cheek as Princess Aleena tilted her chin up, eager to meet his mouth. Her heart was fluttering with both excitement and nerves. As their lips made contact Jules' one good hand lowered from her face so he could wrap his arm around her, bringing her closer to him. As the fingers of his good hand stroked the embroidered bodice of her corset, the fingers of his bandaged hand sandwiched between their bodies flexed in a restless manner despite still being a little stiff.
Princess Aleena responded earnestly to his kiss, still not getting the right rhythm with her breathing as her breath came out in short ragged bursts between lip movements. Her fingers stroked his shoulders and upper-arms slowly before they travelled to his back. This time when she felt Jules' soft tongue run over her lips the lilac-furred female granted him access to her mouth then seemed to melt into him as the cobalt male kissed her deeply. The pair slowly parted before things could get too heated, still clinging to each other and gazing into the other's eyes.
'Goodnight Ali.' Jules said in a low alluring tone. His hazel eyes still narrowed as he gazed at her with a lazy smile, he felt more content in this moment than he had for a long time.
'Goodnight Jules.' She murmured back as her emerald-green eyes narrowed with innocent enticement. Princess Aleena's own heart beat with the same warmth and contentment he felt. The two hedgehogs then pulled apart from one another and as the princess headed inside her chambers to retire for the evening, the patrol private turned on his red-booted heels and headed back down the hall. There was a slight spring in his step as he went...
Little Notes:
Hey peeps, my apologies for taking soooo long with this chapter, as you can see not only is it considerably longer but it was also a massive pain in the arse to put together! I also have had a busy social calendar recently which does not help but then, there's more to life than sitting in front of a computer so I thank you for your patience.
Ok firstly, sorry for the lack of Charles in this chapter (yet again) he will be back properly in the next chapter and I will also be getting back to the other main issue of this fic… The War! I haven't forgotten about it I promise, it will be playing a crucial role very soon in the story…
Alright, I do hope you like the relationship that Jules has with Alicia here. I wanted to try and convey something that was similar, yet completely different from Sonic and Sally. Alicia does have a semi-important role to play in this story and she was one character that never seemed to get used much in the Archie comics (she spent the majority of it unconscious in a tube). I didn't want her to come off as a clone of Sally so I have pretty much come up with her character myself, only using her bio as a very loose guide. Of course we also have the introduction of Mayor Maximillion Acorn too, his character will be based on his Archie-counterpart but of course, since he isn't king in this fic he will also be different. The first change you will notice is that I have made him a relative of Amadeus Prower meaning that in my fic Sally and Tails will also be related. I also make a note of Tail's mother who, again, has been changed to suit my story… I must admit that I love the idea of her being a hard-hitting reporter for the news while her husband is a captain in the one place where news is always about! I will be writing more on that and it's difficulties later..
Anyway, I've bored you enough… until next time!
Stay tuned…